The painful saga of Newcastle's demise under Mike Ashley continued yesterday as they were humiliated at Leyton Orient.

Now, at a time of year when fresh hope pervades almost every club in the country, the Magpies' billing as favourites for a swift return to the Premier League was called into question in devastating style by a League One team from Brisbane Road.

'Stand up if you hate Ashley,' sang around 1700 Geordies, precious few of whom were wearing replicas of the bizarre yellow-and-orange away shirt.

'We want Ashley out,' they chanted towards the end of this embarrassing afternoon in the capital. At that precise moment Ryan Jarvis struck Orient's fifth, and hundreds of those long-suffering Tynesiders left to return north, no doubt fearful for the future.

'There's only one Alan Shearer,' they had yelled in acknowledgement of their hero, who has let it be known privately that he is as keen as ever to lead the team out of trouble once Ashley has secured a buyer for the club.

The problem is that no such buyer is in sight, and Newcastle United under Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood look horribly vulnerable in defence. Somewhat ironic, since both men were top defenders in their time.

Up front the story is one of waste, while Alan Smith's captaincy failed to breed much conviction in midfield.

A magnificent bicycle kick from substitute striker Scott McGleish was the pick of Orient's goals as they showed a far greater desire to play to their potential.

Jimmy Smith's glancing header from a long Sean Thornton free-kick had opened the scoring after just five minutes, and exposed the Geordies' cluelessnes in the air. Midway through the first half Newcastle were two behind, when Habib Beye handled in the area and Thornton lifted the spot-kick past Tim Krul.

Only bright spot: Joey Barton scores for Newcastle

Joe Barton hit back with a penalty of his own, when Tamika Mkandawire brought down Obafemi Martins. But the genius of McGleish restored the two-goal cushion, then Mkandawire made amends for his earlier carelessness with a simple tap-in. Orient substitute Jarvis piled on the agony and prompted that famous Cockney cheek to surface at last.

'We want six!' shouted Orient fans - and a few more of United's
faithful shuffled away, unable to take the shame of it all. Harry Baker
duly drilled the sixth, and Orient's greedy and fun-loving supporters
demanded seven. That was too much to expect, even on a day when
Ashley's tenure over a proud north-eastern club looked more
inappropriate with every passing minute.

Newcastle's acting manager, Chris Hughton, tried to ban his players
from speaking after their humiliation in London - and then failed to
apologise to the travelling fans.
But defender Jose Enrique revealed: 'The situation is bad in the club
but that was no excuse. This was a bad day for all the players and when
we go out on the pitch we need to concentrate.'

In contrast, Hughton seemed relatively untroubled by the Geordies 6-1
thrashing against League One side Orient, and even claimed: 'It has
been a good pre-season so far. This is only a blip.'

He did, however, admit that the uncertainty over the club's future was
hard to handle.

Hughton added: 'I don't know when a takeover will tke
place, I don't know when a new manager will be put in place, and if you
concern yourself too much with that you end up not doing what you've
been put in place to do. The attitude of the players has been great
until now.

'The situation [regarding the club's future] is immaterial. All we can
do as a squad is do it right during this preseason period.'

Hughton revealed that he has no authority in any matters related to the
transfer market.

However, he wasn't ducking responsibility for
yesterday's embarrasing outcome and added: 'I'm extremely disappointed
with the result today, we didn't win and we didn't perform.'

Asked to dleiver a message to the fans who had travelled down from the
north-east to witness the humiliation, he would only say: 'We want the
Newcastle support to see us winning and put on a good performance. They
didn't see that today, there are ups and downs in football and this was
very much a down.'

If sorry seemed to be the hardest word for Hughton, defender Jose
Enrique seemed genuinely frustrated and remorseful for the shambolic
defeat.

He explained:'Everybody is sad in the dressing room about what has happened..'
Some, apparently, more sad than others. Asked if he had a message for
the fans, captain Alan Smith said: 'We've been told not to speak.'

Meanwhile Steven Taylor responded to the same request with the words: 'Nothing, mate.'

And that just about summed up what the Newcastle players achieved on the pitch in East London yesterday.

Orient manager Geraint Williams commented casually: 'It was a really
good workout and a lot of the lads have really enjoyed it. This is good
preparation for the coming season.'

His opposite number from Newcastle, Chris Hughton, paid the League One
side the ultimate compliment when he quipped: 'At least we don't have
to play Orient again this season.'